Prevalence of HBV and HCV among the multi-transfused beta thalassemic major patients in a day care centre of blood transfusion department of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital

Abstract

Though regular blood transfusion improves the overall survival of patients with β-thalassemia which is one of the most common genetic diseases in the world, carries a definite risk of infection with blood-borne viruses. It is a major health problem, brings much morbidity, early mortality and a great deal of misery for a family both financially and emotionally. World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there is about 3% beta thalassemia carrier and more than two thousand thalassemic children are born every year in Bangladesh. We carried out this study to provide epidemiologic data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) & hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among β-thalassemic patients. Moreover, HBV & HCV infection-associated risk factors were investigated in this study. Two hundred patients with β-thalassemia major were enrolled in this study. Using Rapid Immuno-chromatographic Test and their sera were tested for HBsAg and HCVAb. The positive HBsAg & HCVAb results were confirmed by ELISA. The study sample 200 consisted of 165 males (82.5%) and 35 females (17.5%), with a mean±SD age of 5.9±9.0 years. Four (2%) patients were HCV-Ab positive; 13(6.5%) were HBsAg positive. Univariate analysis showed that (P=0.01), older age (P=0.001), longer transfusion duration (P=0.000), HBsAg seropositivity (P=0.03), and higher serum ferritin level (P=0.002) were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of HCV. Using multivariate analysis, age (P<0.001), serum ferritin level (P< 0.001) were independent factors associated with HCV infection. Improvement of the people's knowledge about TTI risk factors, blood screening strategies and HBV vaccination have led to a dramatically decrease in prevalence of TTIs particularly HBV during the last decades in Bangladesh.However, post-transfusion transmission of HCV has still remained a major health concern in multi-transfused patients. As the prevalence of HCV infection is much higher among β-thalassemic patients as compared with HBV infections routine screening of donated blood for HCV is highly recommended by ELISA.